In this module, we’ll explore what Building Information Modelling technology is and how it can benefit you. Let’s get started.

One of the biggest problems a construction project can face is inefficiency and waste. If things don’t go according to plan, valuable time and money can be lost. This is where BIM comes in.

BIM allows project teams to create, manage, and share detailed information about the progress of a project at any stage of development. It also supports efficient collaboration to keep time, cost, and complexity to a minimum.

By designing, constructing, or even managing a virtual model of a project in BIM, any potential issues can be identified early, and throughout the entire lifecycle from inception to completion. As a result, problems are resolved in the virtual world long before they can become a reality. This helps to eliminate most of the inefficiency that comes with traditional planning, designing, and construction.

So how does BIM work? BIM collects all the technical and design data belonging to a proposed building and all its components and presents them in one overall model that can be accessed and updated in real time.

For BIM to work, a lot of information needs to be prepared in advance. Once all the information has been applied, a project can be tested for viability and, if necessary, improved or made more efficient.

So, what does the BIM process look like in practice? Typically, a building information model will be set up with lots of information from many sources. This can include assets relating to everything from floors, walls, and windows to pipes, drainage, and wastewater equipment.

The next step is for a fully virtual version of the building to be created and shared with all the relevant stakeholders. Once shared, they can perform walkthroughs to predict building performance or view three-dimensional models to improve planning.

One of the main benefits is that changes to design, estimation, or approvals are made in one place rather than updating multiple versions created by different teams at different times.

There is a range of stakeholders, from architects to facilities managers, who use BIM as an integral part of their work. Being able to work from, and contribute to, projects in real time therefore eliminates confusion about which version of the plans is the most current.

With the ability to test performance and make changes to project in real time, it’s estimated that time, cost, and energy savings between 20% and 30% can be expected.

One of the major challenges of BIM is that it requires a significant amount of information to be prepared in advance. Because of this, the final model is only as good as the quality of the information used to create it. However, the more data loaded into a project, the more computer power is needed to maintain a fluent workflow.

As a result, it is important that BIM assets are carefully constructed and managed so they only use the actual amount of data required. At Grundfos, BIM assets are built from scratch. This ensures they remain as data light as possible without sacrificing any essential specification data that’s needed throughout the lifecycle of the project.

That covers our introduction to what BIM technology is and how it can benefit you. In the next module, we’ll explore the data-light approach Grundfos uses to reduce the strain on systems while actively improving workflows.